A great day today! We started out around 7:45 in a misty fog but with sufficient visibility that we felt safe. Damp enough that I had to remove my glasses so I could see, and water was dripping from my helmet. The misty weather remained with us for the first 25 miles or so. It not only kept us cool, but it gave a special effect to the woods and the rivers and streams. There were a variety of wildflowers along the way--coreopsis, cornflowers, black-eyed susans, lady lupine, crimson clover, purple verbena, and a number of others I haven't been able to identify. There was not a vast sweep of them as there was in Texas, but rather a continuous scattered mix wherever the roadside had not been mowed.
At mile 34 of what was supposed to be a 47 mile ride, I along with Lise, Nancy, and Kathy M. took a side trip to Edward Ball Wakula Springs State Park, which is an area of a massive spring that spawns a river and of the 4th largest underwater cave system in the world. It is a lovely place and usually the Womans Tour stays there but this year the place was already booked. The 4 of us went on the guided boat tour and saw a lot of wildlife--alligators, moorhens, yellow-crowned night herons, little blue herons, wood ducks, a barred owl, turtles, a great white egret (heron), some unidentified ducks, and fish. There was also a lot of pickerel weed in bloom and a small patch of spider lilies.
After lunch at the lodge we meet 4 men (all in their 70s) who are biking across country to raise money to fight childhood cancer. They call themselves grandparents to support grandchildrens health. They started March 2 in New Mexico (I think) and will end in Sun City, FL, just south of Tampa. So far they have raised $180,000 for the cause.
Then I took a short (2 mile) hike into the woods and marsh around the springs and saw another alligator and read about various trees along the way. Finally, I had to head towards the motel and got in around 4:30, having clocked 60 miles.
Tomorrow is a rest day. I'm going kayaking.
Isn't it amazing that on a "rest day" you want to go kayaking! Are you strong now or what?? I am so glad you took the extra miles to see Wakulla Springs. It was one of our most memorable rest days last year. Got many photos of the wild life from the boat, and many of us braved the high platform to jump in the water! Enjoy your last week on the ride!!
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