Wintry Florida

Maureen and Ramsay came from Atlanta to stay with us for a few days.




At first the weather was nice enough for a visit to Green Springs Park and then a picnic lunch at Gemini springs. The sulphuric green spring pictured, is 72 feet (22 metres) deep and was once part of a 19th century health resort. Now it is a park that we visit yearly on a cycling trail. Apparently it varies in colour according to the time of year, appearing more turquoise in the summer.


The next day was cloudy and cold. Paul thought it would rain. Even so we went to Blue Springs to see the manatee. Because the day was so overcast, there was no line-up to get in but because of the cool weather it was the perfect day to see the manatee. I have never seen so many in the spring, so close to where we were viewing. Even the sun began to shine through. Back at the beach, though, it was still windy and cloudy.



The next day was cloudy with a rough ocean and high tide at the beach again but at Merritt Island some sun appeared and we had three sightings of bald eagles. Roseate spoonbills were flying above Biolab Road where we also saw alligators. Pictured above, at the entrance to the Blackpoint Wildlife Drive were ibis and egrets.


It is traditional to have dinner with Maureen and Ramsay at the restaurant across the road, now called The Baker's Table...but they still have schnitzel on the menu.



The last day finally had a lower tide in the afternoon and an improvement in the weather so that we could have a short walk on the beach.


And then...a sunset dinner at Outriggers.


Addendum: This is Harper, Maureen and Ramsay's 11 year old grand-daughter, with her science project. She looks so happy and proud of her project that I had to put it in.





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