Way down upon the Suwanee River

I just added another location to my bucket list. It's my short bucket list - the things I will really accomplish before I die. I have the DEEP bucket list but that's mainly for wishing and dreaming and idling away the time on a dull day. Not that I have many dull days in my life. Always seem to be busy-busy-busy.
This awesome looking place is actually one of Florida's marvelous state parks. It is on the Suwanee River and there are rapids. In Florida on a river. How cool can that be????????

So, needless to say I am so-so excited about traipsing up to the northern part of the state to view these rapids. Although I was just there last week and knew nothing about these rapids. Another time - and soon.

I've been flipping through the Florida book on state parks and my imagination is rolling away from me. So many beautiful and awesome places to visit and enjoy. Steven Foster you should have visited Florida.

Stump Pass State Park

There are little almost hidden pockets of Florida that still resemble the OLD or REAL Florida as some refer to the last small escapes. Stump Pass State Park is on the very end of Manasoto Key which lies south of Nokomis and Englewood is one of theses little quiet pockets of paradise. It is inconspicuously tucked away at the end of this key and is truly amazing.

Eagles fly over their kingdom while box turtles walk the hiking paths and move out of the way for no one. Herons strut along the beach within inches from visitors. Osprey stare down at you from their perches and flutter their wings. Dolphins put on a daily show close to the sandy beach. Little sandpipers skitter across the wet sand in search of a meal. Egrets pose for photos on branches stuck permanently in the surf.

Shells are placed on overturned tree roots either by nature or human intervention. Shells litter the beach like a lumpy carpet. Sea oats blow gently to the music of the wind. And of course always the nasty deadly sand spurs. The sand soft and cool beneath your bare feet. Except for the waves slipping along the shoreline and an occasional boat their is a supreme quiet that drifts across the land.

One can get lost in the beauty and the wilderness. A little piece of paradise snuggled next to the hustle and bustle of Florida. A reprieve of traffic, high rises and shops is most welcome.

I see them everywhere

Sometimes I feel that I am surrounded by stupid people. They seem to be everywhere. Yesterday when visiting a wonderful Florida state park a baby alligator was observed very close to the swimming area. A little boy (around 8 years old) was smacking his snoodle in the water tryng to get some type of reaction from the baby.
He received no reaction so he picks up a stick and throws it at the baby alligator. I reprimand him in no uncertain terms about abusing the gator. Standing right next to this child is his mother. She says nothing to me or her child. She didn't even tell him not to throw more sticks. Where does this responsibility lie?
So this child apparently has no boundaries and can do whatever he wants. I wonder what will happen as he gets older?
Then while tubing down a crystal clear river where no disposable items are allowed I see two people smoking - and where did the butts go? Most of the property along the river is posted with 'PRIVATE PROPERTY NO TRESPASSING SIGNS' - did this curtail others from climbing on to private docks and jumping off. NO!
What is wrong with people? Or is it me?

STOP in the name of love

STOP in the name of love - before I get a ti- i -ket - and pay a fine. Supreme!

I'm sure you have seen those red octagon signs with letters that say S T O P. When driving most of us know this means to step on the brake pedal to bring the car to a stop - a complete stop. There are some drivers who think the STOP sign is an accessory to the landscape.

So hubby (sweetheart that he is) occasionally has the afflictions of CRS, old tymers disease, lost in space attitude and hep me-hep me. On this particular day while touring and staying at one of Florida's finest state parks he blows through one of those STOP signs. He was driving at about 2 miles an hour in a campground on a dirt road with absolutely no traffic. He just slid around that curve and he did look to the left and drove right by a state trooper sitting there waiting for his catch of the day.

I wonder why he wasn't out looking for drug smugglers or bank robbers? But there he was sitting by the STOP sign just waiting for some excitement. He turns on his red lights and pulls us over. He was very nice - even though he has been assigned to STOP sign duty at a state park with little congestion. I wonder who he pissed off to get this boring assignment? Hubby told the nice trooper he didn't even notice the STOP sign. Honesty is a good rule. He was given a written warning.

I sat next to him blabbering about being more attune to his environment and just plain paying attention to the outside world he lives in.

Yesterday, I was off to the mall. I drove around the almost deserted parking lot way around to the back of the mall. One finds more empty spaces on the back side. There are about a dozen STOP signs in this mall parking lot - half of which are in the back 40acres. Yes, I stopped for every dang one of them. So way back in the back corner I see a police car - just sitting and watching those STOP signs.

I think he's watching me and then I contemplate what the speed limit is in a mall parking lot? Have I seen a speed limit sign? I get nervous about him sitting back there so far from a Dunkin Donuts. Perhaps he too has been punished and has been assigned parking lot STOP sign duty. But yet - criminals roam the street while deputy dog sits in a car watching for STOP sign offenders. STOP in the name of love before you get a ti - i - ket.

Rocket Man

I witnessed this amazing, unbelievable and quite disgusting incident yesterday in the turtle pond. I was feeding the guys brine shrimp - a treat for them. Normally they get tadpoles but for some odd reason this year we have no tadpoles in the front pond. It's a mystery. So I bought them brine shrimp.

They have to chase the little suckers around the pond which offers them exercise and a chance to do some real hunting for their food. I love watching them. But this day the watching turned into a little bit of gross me out - gag me with a spoon episode.

One of the guys lets out this stream of poop. It came out his back end like a rocket. Flew out so fast it caused a ripple in the pond. And there was a lot of that stuff and it flew halfway across the pond there was soooo much force. I never thought their would be so much force. Actually I never even considered what a turtle pooping would look like.

Anyway it was a sight to behold. I'm hoping I never witness this again. The incident reminded me of the hippo at Homassassa Springs. They have a sign that warns people about standing clear of the splatter zone. I witnessed that explosion one time. A memorable vision. Some things just amaze me.

Cheeseburger in Paradise

I blew out my flip-flop when I stepped on a pop rock. Shouldn't have been in the water - waiting for the incision to heal. Wastin away again...

Went to Ponce De Leon State Park in the Florida panhandle last week. Almost time to go back to school so needed to get in one more weekend of fun. The problem was I was still healing from the surgery and was banished from getting my foot wet. What an enema dilemma.

When we arrived at the springs it was hotter than Africa. Sticky, icky kind of hot. The springs were crystal clear and absolutely beautiful. I couldn't help myself. I went in against doctors orders. Well the springs looked so pure and the water flow from the head spring was gallons a minute so the situation looked good.

68 degree crystal clear water and a day as hot as Africa - it was awesome. And the fact it is referred to as the 'Fountain of Youth'. Who could possibly resist. Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. It was sooo refreshing.

So, I'm walking down the overflow to the springs wearing my dollar flip flops that I bought at Dollar General so I don't step on any thing or get sand in my incision and I popped my flip flop on a rock. Life is tuff when you pop your flip flop. Now I so understand Jimmy's song - Margaritaville.

Rules is Rules

Rues is rules. We all should obey the rules. Or at least pretend that we are abiding by the rules. There are rules for everything - even how to act properly. And rules should make sense and be justifiable. I do try to follow the rules. That is the posted rules - rules that I know about. Then, there are those unwritten rules. How does one address the unwritten rules.

Let's look at the swimming rules for the Florida state parks. Some seem senseless. Who makes these rules? Why are they not all posted? Are some rules made johnny-on-the-spot? Does a twenty year old lifeguard make the rules and then demands that his 16 year old underling enforce these silly rules? Rules is rules but still they need to make sense.

At Rainbow River state park you can only take snoodles in the crystal clear water. Why not floaties? At Blue Springs state park you can take just about anything. No rules are posted. Take one step outside the designated swim area and you are immediately escorted from the park. This rule is posted and is one I would never mess around with.
At DeLeon Springs state park you can take huge rafts In the water and take food and drink in the water. Where are these rules posted. At Weeki Wachee Springs the rules are well - absurd. When floating down the lazy river which is just a roped off section of the river you must STAY in the tube. No snorkeling. No swimming. No snorkel gear in the lap lane. Well that rule depends on which lifeguard you talk with. One said yes and one said no. Okay buddies - get your rules straight. And absolutely no congregating in the refreshing water on a serious hot day at the end of the lazy river. Why? You are just sitting in your tube enjoying the day and not exiting the water. No one is around and you are obstructing no one or the flow of the river. What gives with this stupid rule? Who made up this rule?

Is there a rule committee that decides these rules? What is there criteria? Do they have facts to back these foolish rules? Like sitting in a tube for five minutes in the water causes water pollution? I want consistency and facts with my rules.
But yet we have no rules for polluting our water and killing our marine life with oil spills. Rules is rules. We do need them but they need to be sensible.

Look thru the window

Get off the couch - go to the window - pull back the curtain - and look at life. It could be passing you by or floating away and you will never even know it. There is soooo much out there to see - enjoy - feel and become one with. Visit a state park and relax and appreciate all they have to offer. This weekend admittance to all National parks are FREE. Go for it.

Forget about the politicians who promise you the world on a silver platter when in reality life comes at us on a paper plate. And plastic forks that sometimes break and we have to improvise. Deal with the dilemma. Use your fingers. FLASHBACK!!!!

Out on a boating expedition once upon a time ago and I took Chinese take-out to munch on. We dropped anchor in the middle of the HUGE lake and started to dive in - to the food. Wait!!! No eating implements. You can't eat rice with the fingers. But you can scoop rice up with a broken fortune cookie.

Get out of the backseat and sit up front and meld with the world as it spins by you. Don't be left in the dust. Anyways - the dust is bad for your allergies and breathing in general. Suck up all that fresh air and enjoy the great outdoors. Forget about the distractions and all the negativity that is piled up in your luggage. Open those drapes and live a little or a lot.

Honeymoon Island

Honeymoon Island State Park is perched on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. It has a beautiful stretch of beach, a dog beach, trails, picnic areas and marshes. You can catch a ferry from the park to Caldesi Island.

This is one of my favorite Florida Parks.