Friday, February 22, Everglades National Park

Packed up a lunch and we were off to Everglades National Park at 8:30 under sunny skies, 24C (75F).

After making a fuel stop in Homestead ($4.099/gallon for diesel), we arrived at the Park entrance at 9:30.
Everglades National Park, the largest remaining subtropical wilderness in the nation, is a diverse and intricately linked series of habitats sheltering a variety of plants and animals, many of them threatened or endangered. The Everglades was originally a slow-moving freshwater river, 50 miles wide and a few inches deep, fed by Lake Okeechobee. At nearly 1.5 million acres in size, the park provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like the manatee, American crocodile, and the elusive Florida panther.We stopped at the Visitor Centre at the entrance and watched a movie about the Park.

This map shows the location and size of the Park.

Next stop was at the Royal Palm Visitor Centre just in time for a Ranger-led hike on the Anhinga Trail. Along this elevated boardwalk, we saw alligators, anhingas garfish & double-breasted Cormorants. This is a male Anhinga drying his wings after diving for his lunch.

The highlight of the hike was, of course, the alligators, of which there were many! The average size for an adult female American alligator is 8.2 feet (2.6 m), and the average size for a male is 11.2 feet (3.4 m). Exceptionally large males can reach a weight of nearly half a ton or 1,000 pounds.
Both males and females have an "armored" body with a muscular flat tail. The skin on the back is armored with embedded bony plates called osteoderms or scutes. They have four short legs; the front legs have five toes while the back legs have four toes. Alligators have a long snout with upward facing nostrils at the end; this lets them breathe while the rest of the body is underwater. It is a freshwater animal. It thrives in wetlands like swamps, marshes, bogs, lakes and rivers, as opposed to crocodiles which are salt-water animals.

Following the hike, we decided to drive to Flamingo, which is the southernmost point of the US mainland, have lunch rhen work our way back to the entrance. On arrival at Flamingo, it was a pleasant 28C (82.4F). Along the main Park road between Flamingo and park headquarters, there are six major boardwalk or blacktop nature trails.  Each trail is 1/2 mile or less in length.





The west Lake Boardwalk Trail extends through a mangrove forest.
Mangrove forests are present in the coastal channels and winding rivers around the tip of south Florida. The term "mangrove" does not signify a particular botanical relation, but rather is used to identify several species of salt-tolerant trees that thrive amidst the harsh growing conditions of the coast.
Red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle), identified by their stilt-like roots, and the black (Avicennia germinans) and white mangroves (Laguncularia racemosa) thrive in tidal waters, where freshwater from the Everglades mixes with saltwater. Everglades National Park boast contains the largest contiguous stand of protected mangrove forest in the hemisphere. We saw all three varieties on the hike.

The next trail was the Mahogany Hammock Nature trail. This elevated boardwalk winds through a forest of mahogany trees and many other subtropical plants which are labeled for easy identification. The boardwalk bridges the sawgrass river and enters a lush tree island - a Tropical Hammock. Hidden from historic logging activities, old growth mahogany trees have grown to record size on the Hammock's higher, drier ground. They support an abundance of plants and animals, act as windbreaks and help prevent soil erosion. The importance of older-growth trees is often overlooked, as in the case of mahogony trees, which are extensively logged in tropical regions throughout the world for their high quality wood.






Next stop was the Pa-Hay-Okee Overlook, which consists of a 1/4 mile boardwalk leading to a 12-foot observation platform at Shark River Slough which affords views of the vast sawgrass wilderness.
The freshwater slough is without a doubt a very wet habitat. Even in the dry season, you can find water in the deeper parts of the slough. Its very name, the freshwater slough (which sounds like slew and rhymes with two) means a deeper body of slow moving water.

Our last stop was at the Pinelands Trail, a ½ mile loop which explores a subtropical pine forest maintained by fire. The pinelands are the most diverse land habitat in south Florida. Pinelands habitats have no fixed borders. Fires and hurricanes shift them and enable these temperate islands to survive in the damp, subtropical environment. We saw charred pine bark and wind-snapped trunks.

 

We next drove find the Nike Missile site, a relic of the Cold War. However, access to the site is only available through ranger guided tours at 11:00am. We’ll have to pass on this one. www.nps.gov/ever

 

We left the park at 4:30 and made a top-up fuel stop in Homestead before returning to the park at 6:15. It was a full day.

Thursday, February 21

First thing this morning I went to the cabana for Wi-Fi.

At 10:00, with a packed lunch, we set off for a drive across Hwy 41, which runs across the top of the Everglades. It was 27C (80.6F)

At 11:00, we stopped at Gator Park, which provides Airboat tours of the Everglades and a Gator Wrestling & Wildlife show. (1268)

We decided that Chris would probably like to do it, so would leave it for now. 

On the way back, we stopped at some roadside fruit & vegetable stands. They were all very expensive!

I was back at the Cabana from 2:00 – 4:30 catching up on the blog. It is a very pleasant 27F (80.6F)

Wednesday, February 20

At 7:30 this morning, it was clear, sunny and 18C (64.5F). It was very quiet and dark last night and pleasant with all the windows and roof vents open.

At 9:00, we went to the office and they found us a site. No Wi-Fi however. We booked in for the next 5 nights.

Went to the cabana for internet & talked to my brother, Chris, who is coming down on Sunday for a week when we go to the Keys. I let him know that it is sunny and 27C (80F) as he is experiencing temps of -4F.

After lunch we went to Winn-Dixie for some groceries, then back at the park, walked around some of the many cycle paths of the park next door. There is a beach with three mammoth waterslides carved into a rock mountain and a freshwater lake populated with bass. These facilities are only open during the summer months, however. There is a beautiful pool at the campground which is open.

 Can’t remember what these birds are called, but there were several of them around. I ended up logging 9.6 km today!

Back at the campground, we stopped to chat with 2 couples from Ontario. It is fascinating to hear how others travel. One fellow and his wife left Ontario in mid-October and have spent most of their time dry-camping in many locations. He has solar panels installed on the roof and they have learned to “live green”.

Tuesday, February 19, on to Miami

It was clear & 11.4C (53F) this morning. By 9:30 we were cleaned up, closed up & went off for fuel ($4.119/gallon),

At 10:25 we were hooked up & on the way south to Miami via Interstate 75 “Alligator Alley”.

Once we reached Naples, the highway turns east and becomes a toll road - $9.00. The 78 mile stretch of highway contains many wildlife underpasses and is fenced for the entire length.

We stopped at a rest area for lunch and it is a sunny 25C (77F). While there, we saw several White Ibis but no ‘gators.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By 2:05 we arrived at the Larry and Penny Thompson Park which we had heard good reports about. The park consists of 240 shady sites with full hook-ups. Unfortunately, but as we expected, they are booked. They do provide “dry camping” in the tent area, so we went for that. It was nice to be out in the field without any neighbours.

We walked around the campground and it is a lovely park, very clean & tidy. However Wi-Fi is only available at the office and the cabana by the pool.

Started up the generator and scanned the TV for channels – can get 68 – over half of which are Spanish! I guess that’s because we are so close to Cuba.  It was a nice, quiet night – no trains, no planes & no traffic.

Monday, February 18

It got rather chilly last night, with the low dipping to 4C (39F), but warmed up to 5.4C (42F) by the time we got up at 7:30.

Since today is a holiday (President’s Day), we decided to stay here another night then head into Miami tomorrow. Ended up just having a lazy day, aka relaxing. Walked around the park as it warmed up quickly to 21C (70F).

Sunday, February 17, Edison & Ford Winter Estates

It was 5.9C (42.8F) when we got up. The forcast calls for a high of 60F, which is 20F below seasonal! At least it is sunny!
At 8:40 we were off to the Winter Estates with a picnic lunch. There is so much to say about this place! http://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org/ Rather than bore you with a lot of reading, you can check it out for yourself.

We arrived at 8:55 and bought our tickets for the guided tour which would start at 10:00. The street is lined for 16 miles with "Royal Palms" that Edison had planted when he built there.

Edison's botanical garden contains more than a thousand varieties of plants from around the world, including this Banyan tree given by Harvey Firestone in 1925. This tree – yes, it is one tree – now has a circumference of 376 inches and is 84 feet high and is a highlight of a visit. This one covers an acre. A Banyan tree (also known as a walking tree), is native to southern Asia. The long branches support themselves by producing aerial roots that slowly grow downward into the ground, forming pillar-like trunks. Fascinating!

While waiting, we visited the museum, which was very interesting. We learned things about Edison that we didn't have a clue about!

The guided tour was excellent with the docent very informative and full of anecdotes.

The present site dates from 1885, when Edison first visited Florida and purchased the property to build a vacation home. His home, completed in 1887 and dubbed "Seminole Lodge", served as a winter retreat and place of relaxation until Edison's death in 1931. There is also a large guest house connected by a pergola.
The lumber for the two post-and-beam homes was pre-cut in Maine and transported by ship to Fort Myers where local labourers assembled them.

Edison’s good friend Henry Ford purchased the adjoining property, "The Mangoes"in 1916, providing him the opportunity to vacation with Thomas Edison . Ford's craftsman style bungalow was built in 1911 by Robert Smith of New York.
The good friends and their families enjoyed exploring southwest Florida, fishing, boating and square dancing during their trips ti Fort Myers.



We also toured The automobile exhibit, Ford Caretaker's Cottage (which is currently a gift shop), Edison's Little Office (where he could continue to work while on vacation), and Edison's Caretakers House.

The Edison Pier was the first structure to be built after Edison acquired the property. It was used to bring building materials to the property from barges anchored in the Caloosahatchee River. At one time, it extended about 1500 feet to deeper water. Outfitted with boathouses, benches and a summerhouse, it became a favourite place for fishing and visiting.

In 1910, Edison had a swimming pool constructed. It was the first residential swimming pool in the country. There were pools in hotels, but no private ones. We never did find out how deep it is, but I don't think I want to dive from the top diving board!

There are many very old, huge trees on the property. This one is called a Mysore Fig tree. You can just make out Marcel standing at its base.

It was such a fascinating day that I could go on, but I'll stop here. The day only warmed up to 16C (60.8F), but it was sunny!

Saturday, February 16, Fort Myers

This morning was clear & 14C. Went for a 1.5km walk around the park.
At 9:45, we were off to Fort Myers to check out the Chamber of Commerce for ideas of things to see. On arrival, we found most of the parking meters are covered, with "No Parking" signs. Next, we found the Chamber is closed Saturday & Sunday! There is a lot of activity in the park with vendors set up. for the '75th Anniversary Edison Festival of Light'. It is an annual 3 week celebration held around the time of Edison's birthday, February 11. Centennial Park is transformed into a craft lovers dream with 100 exhibitors displaying their hand-crafts during the three-day Edison Festival event.

Although he lived in New England most of his lifetime, In 1885, Thomas Alva Edison built his winter home in Fort Myers, Florida on the Caloosahatchee River. Throughout the 50 years Edison wintered in Fort Myers, he dedicated time in support of local charities and projects. He died in 1931, having successfully received over 1,000 patents for his inventions.

Thomas Edison believed in giving back to the community. His contributions and character hold an unequaled meaning for Southwest Florida and the Edison Festival of Light has become the premier winter event to celebrate his life. Coming upon this was a surprise to us as we enjoyed walking around the vendors.

There was entertainment on the stage, so we watched the Bayshore Cloggers, a dancing/clogging team of 33 students. They were great as they performed for 30 minutes straight. The have an average of 30 performances a year, plus participate in 6 parades.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From there, we went to the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. The gardens are gorgeous, with many flowers, including this Hedge Bouganvillia in full bloom! 

 

We walked around the gardens, which were free, but before we bought our tickets, my camera battery died. Rather than take a chance of not getting any pics, we decided to return tomorrow morning. It was very busy today!

 

 

On the way back to the park, we stopped at The Shell Factory. For over 75 years, the Shell Factory delighted visitore with over 5 million shells and over 18 acres of shopping, displays and entertainment. Shells, things made from shells, and shell collections, you'll find it all at The Shell Factory, a north Fort Myers landmark, which boasts the largest collection of rare sea shells, sponges, coral, fossils and sea life specimens. This is truly a unique Florida shopping experience where you will find gifts from every exotic shore, wildlife exhibits, aquariums, and alligators.

Unique is an understatement. It is a huge, cheesy tourist stop. Glad admission was free!

 

Then it was back to the park to prepare for an unseasonably cold night! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From hThe Bayshore dance/clogging team began in 1986. Here we are 26 years later and still going strong. The team is made up of 33 students. We have an average of 30 performances a year plus participation in 6 parades and at the county fair. We even danced for the Prince of Monaco in 2011!e Bayshore dance/clogging team began in 1986. Here we are 26 years later and still going strong. The team is made up of 33 students. We have an average of 30 performances a year plus participation in 6 parades and at the county fair. We even danced for the Prince of Monaco in 2011!

Friday, February 15, Out for a drive

There were light showers off & on thru the night. Apparently about 2 1/2 inches of rain fell, which is VERY unusual. Everyone is blaming us! It's a very damp morning.

At 10:00 we were off for a drive. It is cloudy and 18C. By 11:30, we crossed a drawbridge onto Pine Island. Pine Island is the largest island in the state of Florida. Located on the Gulf coast of southwest Florida, it is also the 118th largest island in the U.S. Pine island is surrounded by mangroves and includes three aquatic preserves. Residents and visitors are attracted to Pine Island's natural rural character, fishing and boating. Pine Island is mostly agricultural zoning; some visitors travel over a hundred miles to purchase tropical fruit such as lychee and mangos grown and sold on Pine Island. The Intracostal Waterway passes through Pine Island Sound, to the west of the island. Matlacha Pass runs between Pine Island and the mainland. Pine Island lies west of Cape Coral. Pine Island is home to four unincorporated towns: Pine Island Center, St James City, Bokeelia and Pineland. Matlacha is also considered one of the communities but is actually on its own small island. Pine Island has a small town atmosphere, with no traffic lights and mostly agricultural zoning. Each community has its own largely volunteer fire station, marinas, shops and fine casual restaurants.

Upon reaching the "T" intersection, we turned north to Bokeelia, where we stopped at Capt'n Con's Fish House for a nice seafood lunch overlooking the water. It has turned out to be a nice day, 20C, with some sun & cloud.

After lunch, we walked out on the pier & watched pelicans catching their lunch.

Then we drove south to the other end of the island where lies St. James City. There are many canals throught the town which provide the homeowners water access for their boat right in their back yard. Also, many backyards had an enclosed pool.




By 1:50, we were back on the mainland, planning to go to Sanibel Island. However, by the time we got through traffic, it was getting late in the day and we were getting farther from 'home', so decided to just go back to the Park.

We did make one stop at Papa Murphy's Take'n Bake Pizza (we have fond memories of their pizzas from Arizona last year!). They assemble it in front of you, wrap it up & you take it home to bake.

On our return to the trailer, I cooked up the five meat stuffed crust pizza for supper. AWESOME!
And only $10.00!!!

Thursday, February 14

Happy Valentine’s Day!

After spending a few hours updating the blog, we packed up to move south. The skies are overcast and it is 18C (65F).

At 10:30 we were on the road, heading south on the I-75 to North Fort Myers. It has warmed up to 20C (68F).

By 11:30, around Venice, light rain started falling. It soon developed into heavy rain as the temperature dropped a degree.

Fortunately, when we arrived at Sunseekers RV Park at 12:10, the rain had let up. The roads were flooded in places & sites were rather muddy, however we got settled in. Shortly thereafter, the rain returned and became very heavy. It is quite noisy on the roof! By 2:15, there was thunder rolling around and a short time later, a full thunderstorm developed, complete with lightening.

The heavy rain continues until 7:00, when it finally let up.

We are able to receive a few TV channels via the antenna, but no Wi-Fi. Apparently it is available at the clubhouse, but I’m not about to brave the weather to venture out. I am composing this on Word, then will post it when I get Wi-Fi.

Wednesday, February 13, Coastal drive

Woke up this morning to very high humidity - feels like a very light rain. It didn't cool off much last night as it was 22.5C (72F) inside and 21.C (71F) outside. Air conditioning is working great.

After looking at the map, we decided to take a drive down the coast. Started out going west on Hwy 64 towards Holmes Beach. Passing through Bradenton, we went by McKechnie Field where the Pitsburg Pirates prepare for the regular baseball season. (Been there, Terry?)
After crossing a drawbridge, we arrived on the coast at Holmes Beach. Unfortunately, it is still very misty & visibility is minimal.

Continuing south, we reached Bradenton Beach, where we stopped & went for a short walk. The sand is very fine and white. A local explained that what we are experiencing is "sea fog".  It usually is caused by the movement of moist air lying over a warm landmass to a water area with a colder temperature. Just our luck that there is cold front coming in.

The next stop was Cortez Beach, where Marcel took the sign too literally!

In case you can't read the sign, it reads "Please bin your butts".








We continued down US789, along Longboat Key, which is lined with hundreds of expensive-looking resorts, many with vacancies. It is still misty.
By 11:00, the fog is burning off finally, as we cross back to the mainland and into Sarasota. The skies are clearing and we see sunshine.

By 12:15, it is turning out to be a beautiful day as we head back north on US 41.
We arrived back in Bradenton at 12:35 under sunny 25C (77F) skies.

Ten minutes later, we stopped at the Manatee Village Historical Park, where we had our picnic lunch before touring.
The park includes an 1860 courthouse, 1887 church 1912 settlers house, 1903 general store and 1908 one-room schoolhouse. Other highlights include a replica of a typical Florida barn as well as a boat exhibit, restored smokehouse, turpentine still, working blacksmith shop and cow hunter's bunkhouse.

This steam engine, known as Old Cabbage Head, got its name from its rounded smokestack. It served in northern Florida as part of the turpentine industry before coming to Manatee to shuttle supplies for the Manatee-Nocotee Crate Company
.
A little history about The Florida Cracker Trail: This point is the western terminus of the Florida Cracker trail, which follows an east/west route across the state and has existed since 1850. This trail was used by early Florida settlers to traverse the state. It was primarily used to drive cattle from Florida's heartland to the coastal ports for shipment mainly to Key West and Cuba. The term "Cracker" was derived from the sound of the early cow hunters cracking whips as they moved the cattle along this trail.

We toured the Boat works , built by a Bat Fogarty, a member of a boatbuilding and seafaring family, the boatshop contains original tools and equipment.

Next was the Blacksmith shop, which was important to the settlement of the area. Th pioneer smith made settlement possible in any new area by providing tools and farm implements.
Blacksmith shops contain a forge used to heat the metal so that it could be shaped over the anvil.





The Turpentine Still was an interesting exhibit. Pine tar and oil of turpentine were vital to the caulking of sailing vessels. A turpentine still included a large kettle and a condenser, as well as troughs which would have been used for refining the resin.

The Smokehouse was as necessary to the rural pioneer home as a refrigerator is today. In the smokehouse, pioneers hung cuts of meat on racks. Underneath the meat, a green oak or hickory wood fire burned for several days, creating thick smoke that cured and preserved the meat.
This smokehouse is also a sugar cane mill, which we saw at the Florida Pioneer Village.

 

The Settlers House was constructed in 1912 by the Will Stephens Family. The Stephens House is an excellent example of how to survive the long summer without air conditioning. The blocks elevate the house 2 1/2 feet off the ground to allow air flow under the house. The large front porch shades and cools the breese before it enters the house. The large central hallway with a high ceiling funnels the cooled air through the house. This home is shaded by live oaks.

 

 

 

 The 1887 church took two years to build. Construction was begun in 1887, then halted when a yellow fever epidemic claimed the lives of the pastor and many of the congregation. It was originally the home of the Union Congregation, which later became the Methodist-Episcopal Church South. The church remains a consecrated house of worship and frequently hosts weddings, baptisms, memorial services and other religious events.

 

There are other restored buildings on the site. All in all, it is a wonderful display of early pioneer life.

By 3:00 we were back to Fishermans Cove, enjoying the warm sunshine.

Tuesday, February 12, Moving on......

We had an early start to the day, as we have to be out of the trailer by 7:45 due to insurance regulations.
Walked over to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. No complimentary meals today since we didn't pay for a site!
After wandering in & out of several beautiful motorhomes, we ended up at the service bays. It is 10:00 and our trailer was hooked up & being pulled out - finally!
We stood watching from a distance and realized that it was going IN! Why??? Well, what else can happen? Apparently, they didn't lower the TV antenna before pulling the trailer out, therefore bent it. Now hey have to replace it. Guess we won't be leaving for a while.

To kill time, we attended a free seminar on Electrical Systems at 11:00. It was very well presented and informative.

At noon, we checked in with Jodi, our Service Advisor - wanted to catch her before she went for lunch. She advised us that it should be ready by 1:15.
Once again, went for a walk around - what else is there to do? The trailer is gone from the bay! We finally found it out front, all fixed. Now we have to wait for Jodi to return from lunch to find out what is covered under warranty & what we have to pay.

Finally, at 1:40, she came back. Everything is covered and we are good to go.

At 1:55, we are on the road to Fishermans Cove RV Resort in Palmetto under sunny 30C (86F) skies!

After a short 68km drive, we arrived & got set up. It is a nice, shaded site. No trains, no traffic noise......

Monday, February 11

Bright & early at 7:30, we were closed up and heading over to the service bay for some repairs. The main one is that we do not receive any TV with the cable or antenna connections. Cables are screwed up!

We dropped off the trailer, completed the paperwork then went for breakfast which is complimentary at the Front Porch Cafe, . This morning it is scrambled eggs, sausages & home fries.

After walking around the the sales sites, checking out RVs, we wandered around the Camping World store and bought "Tire Minders" which monitor the pressure and temperature of tires. This can warn you of a potential problem such as a blow-out. There were some cute "RV" planters outside.
We returned to the Cafe & set up the computer where we got great Wi-Fi reception.
Next, it was lunch time - complimentary again - chicken cordon bleu, rice and green beans. Delicious!


Then we find out that the rig won't be ready until later. We had a reservation at a park in Palmetto which I had to cancel. We will be sleeping in the service bay tonight. The good news is that the cable and antenna TV is working! Rob got it figured out!
We drove into Brandon to Best Buy where I bought a 2TB back-up drive for the computer. (a birthday present for myself - thanks, Mom & Dad!)
When we returned to Lazy Days, it was such a beautiful day that I had to go to the pool. It is a beautiful enclosed pool with a hot tub.







At 5:00 we got into the trailer for the night, hooked up to water........heard some strange noises.......oops, fresh water hose was connected to the sewer flush (which filled the black tank). Luckily, there is a sewer connection to drain the tank. Crisis averted! Stressful day, it was.
The good news is that the Wi-Fi is good in the service bay!

Hope we can move on tomorrow!








We

Sunday, February 10, Moving to Lazy Days for repairs

At 9:40 this morning, we were on the road under sunny, 21C(70F) skies. It has warmed up quickly from 12.3C (54F) earlier this morning.

After a short 50km drive, we arrived at Lazy Days RV Campground, which has 300 RV sites. By 11:00, we were set up on our site, which we thought was the best site in the park! We have no neighbour beside us and the Wi-Fi is excellent!

Went for a walk-about. This is a HUGE facility, with 300 campsites, at least 100 service bays, most of which were busy, and millions of dollars in inventory. There was everything from 2million dollar Class A motorhomes to pop-up tent trailers!

                       It doesn't get any better than this!

Friday, February 8, Florida State Fair

After a 4 km. walk around the park, we decided to go to the Florida State Fair, which opened yesterday. It is sunny and 20C (68F).

   We arrived at the Fairgrounds at 10:30. Admission is $10.00 each. www.floridastatefair.com

We started out at the Expo Hall which contained the commercial exhibits (vendors), then we covered the Cattle Ranching Museum and the Steam Engines.









Next was the "Cracker Country", where there were exhibits of activities of the day. 

Cracker Country is a rural Florida living history museum located on the Florida State Fairgrounds. The museum recreates 1890s rural Florida. Its collection of 13 original buildings dating back from 1870-1912 were relocated from across the state of Florida beginning in 1978 when Cracker Country was established by Mildred W. & Doyle E. Carlton, Jr. Today, the historically furnished buildings recreate the lifestyles of the past, and costumed interpreters portray daily living as Florida pioneers and share the stories of early Floridians' experiences.

Florida's pioneers came to this state with only the customs and traditions of their past homes and the dream of a new beginning in Florida. The daily life of these early Florida settlers was very different from the present. The family unit had to work together to prosper in this time of simpler means. Each family member played a distinct role.

The Mother

The mother made sure the household ran smoothly. She was responsible for the daily household chores and other daily necessities. A Florida pioneer mother didn't have the time to be bored. Her typical day included activities such as cooking for her family, preserving fruit and vegetables, making soap and candles, and sewing clothing for her husband and her children. It was the mother's job to spin yarn, weave cloth, take care of the vegetable garden, and tend to the chickens. If necessary, the mother would even take on the role of teacher to her children. She was also responsible for passing down folk rhymes, stories and songs to them.

The Father

When the family first settled, it was the father's job to clear the land and build the home. After the home was built, the father's job of providing for and protecting his family was endless. Typical chores of the father consisted of plowing and planting the farmland and hunting and fishing for food.
The father spent much of his time performing the essential outdoor chores and teaching his sons the skills required to care for a family in early rural Florida. Skills such as loading a gun, using an axe, saw or knife, and caring for livestock, was all necessary for survival.

Children

Florida's pioneer children did not have as much free time as children today. They would often spend their days performing chores around the home in aid of their mothers and fathers. Boys would spend time with their fathers learning how to hunt, fish and trap wild animals. Girls would spend time with their mothers learning how to cook, sew and clean. During the day, the older children would also attend school.
When the children did have free time, they would spend it swimming and playing. Girls would often play with their dolls or pretend to be in school. Boys would often get together and play games. The weekends brought many joys to children. Often on Saturdays, the family would hitch a horse to the wagon and head into town for the day. On Sundays, the family would go to church, and the children would get to play with other children their same age.

There was a demonstration of squeezing juice from sugar cane using one "horsepower". The horse would go around and around providing power to compress the cane and squeeze out the juice which would be boiled down to make syrup.

This man was working a foot-powered lath as he created a wooden spindle. I would think you would develop a very strong right leg!








We also covered the Agribusiness and Equestrian exhibits, which included the Goat & sheep tent, Old farm machinery and prize-winning cattle barn among other displays.

There was even a Sand Sculpture demonstration. This guy was creating a sailing ship.

Trying to find our way out, we had to go through the midway! It looked like I remember the Toronto Ex Midway many years ago! Rides, food vendors, games of chance.


By 2:00, we packed it in for the day. It was quite warm& sunny 23C (73.4F), so headed back to the park.

Tuesday, February 5, Weeki Wachee Spring

At 10:00, we decided to go to Weeki Wachee Spring, a 500 acre State park that opened 65 years ago.

Located about an hour north of Tampa at the crossroads of U.S. 19 and State Road 50, Weeki Wachee is more than just a mark on a road map. Weeki Wachee is an enchanted spring -- the only one of its kind in the world -- and one of Florida’s oldest and most unique roadside attractions. For  65 years, the fun, family oriented park has lured in visitors with beautiful mermaids who swim in the cool, clear spring waters. Weeki Wachee Springs is a magical entrance into a mysterious blue underwater world of mermaids, manatees, turtles and bubbles. Sitting in the Mermaid Theater, visitors feel like they are inside the flowing spring, and are transported back to simpler times, before super theme parks and super highways appeared.

The Seminole Indians named the spring “Weeki Wachee,” which means “little spring” or “winding river.” The spring is so deep that the bottom has never been found. Each day, more than 117 million gallons of clear, fresh 74-degree water bubbles up out of subterranean caverns. Deep in the spring, the surge of the current is so strong that it can knock a scuba diver’s mask off. The basin of the spring is 100 feet wide with limestone sides and there, where the mermaids swim, 16 to 20 feet below the surface, the current runs a strong five miles an hour. It’s quite a feat for a mermaid to stay in one place in such a current. The water is 99.7% pure and crystal clear.

 

An 18-seat theatre was built into the limestone, submerged six feet below the surface of the spring, so viewers could look right into the natural beauty of the ancient spring.

The first show at the Weeki Wachee Springs underwater theater opened on October 13, 1947 -- the same day that Kukla, Fran and Ollie first aired on that newfangled invention called television, and one day before Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier. The mermaids performed synchronized ballet moves underwater while breathing through the air hoses hidden in the scenery.

 

We arrived just as the world famous mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs perform their version of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid.

The Little Mermaid celebrates her birthday and comes face to face with her Prince!  Yearning to have legs like her Prince, the Little Mermaid makes a deal with the sea witch to give her what she wants in exchange for her beautiful voice.

A fierce battle ensues as the Prince and the sea witch struggle to save the Little Mermaids beautiful voice proving that "Love does conquer all."

The show was well done and clever the way the mermaids would catch a breath using a pressurized tube as they stayed underwater for the 30 minute duration of the show.

 

Following the show, we went on the Wilderness River Cruise, where we saw an alligator, bald eagles and Great Blue Herons. The river bottom was clearly visible as it looked to be only inches deep. It was a nice, relaxing cruise in the 24C (75F) sunshine.

                                                                      There was also an animal show which featured a Florida Pine Snake, Yellow-bellied turtles and an American Alligator.

                                                                               I auditioned to be a mermaid, but apparently you have to be an American citizen.......

 

 

The last show at the Underwater theatre was "Fish Tails", which is a retrospective look back at the history of Weeki Wachee Springs and the development of the mermaid shows. Fish Tails takes visitors on a video "behind the scenes" tour of what it takes to produce the mermaid shows at Weeki Wachee Springs and how the mermaids have been entertaining visitors for over 60 years.

 There is also Buccaneer Bay, which has thrilling flume rides, waterslides,   and a Lazy River ride  

 

Unfortunately, they are closed until March. All in all, it was an interesting day!