Old Town, Florida

The weather cleared and we spent our first day exploring the area.

After scouting out a perfect fishing location we traveled to Chiefland, which is a small town nearby with a Walmart Supercenter.  On the way back, we stopped at the Manatee Springs State Park and were surprised to find a huge natural spring that emptied into the Suwannee river.  There was lots of wildlife there and we saw a manatee, turtles, fish and even a few snakes.  We ended up spending several hours walking around the grounds and along walkways through the cypress swamps.

Jeanne at Levy County Quilt Museum.

Wide view of Quilt Museum building built by prison labor in the middle of nowhere.

Natural spring at Manatee Springs State Park. Picture captures only some of the deep blue color of water. Note rippling water caused by natural spring.

Jeanne on walkway at Manatee Springs with jungle-like vegetation in background.

Log with six turtles sunning themselves.

Look closely -- there is a manatee close to the surface in this picture.

Jeanne contemplating the Suwannee River.

Our second day here was spent very quietly.  After our workout and light lunch at a (the) local cafe, Jeanne was assigned to laundry detail and I was assigned to catching dinner.  Jeanne was successful with the laundry but I came away empty handed after doing so well catching crappie the previous evening near the campground.  How quickly things change and we were forced to have steak fajitas for dinner.