Cycling Ellen

60.1 miles today
2791.3 total

While on the riverboat tour at Wakulla Springs State Park this afternoon, I learned that the Creature of the Black Lagoon and the first two Tarzan movies were filmed here. National Geographic is here now, filming a documentary about the archeological digs and the underwater caverns. Last night, I learned that Demi Moore was staying at the motel next door as she is filming a new movie nearby. With all that professional filming going on, my pictures today are a little disappointing as so many of them were taken from the boat. Still, I hope you’ll be able to get a taste of all the wildlife that we saw from the river. There were alligators hanging out on the surface, three kinds of herons, white egrets, mother ducks with their ducklings and huge mullet swimming along the side of the boat and leaping out of the water. Scientists differ as to whether they are trying to rid their gills of parasites by their leaps or whether it’s just mullet fun but the sight of fish flying isn’t one I’m used to seeing.

This area is full of limestone, caves and springs. In one of the springs on the side of the river, there were two manatee babies born this year. The ranger said that they have gone down the river for a couple of weeks and tomorrow I hope to paddle that river and see if I can get a glimpse of them.

Our ride today was great. There were more Florida hills to climb (usually there is a creek or river at the bottom and then the road climbs back up again) and National Forest full of tall, straight pines. Many of us found that it was a great day to cycle full out at top speed with a short ride, straight smooth roads and not a lot of traffic. With a rest day coming up, there was no reason to conserve energy and we wanted to have enough time to spend at the state park on the way. I waded in the swimming area in my bike clothes and loved the feeling of the cold, alkaline water on my skin.

It was about 15 miles back to our hotel on busier roads with the ubiquitous strip malls and Walmart. Debbie, Mary, Hannah and I stopped to pick up items for a paddling picnic on the river tomorrow. On the way, Debbie had her second flat of the day and used my extra tube. Apparently, the patches don’t hold up well in the heat and it’s always good to have another person with you if you run out of tubes.

I was so excited to get to our rest stop here at the Wildwood Inn. As we walked in the lobby door, it was the first time the entire trip that I have seen recycling bins! This was started by a Vermonter as an eco hotel. It has been so hard to throw away bottles and cans and even paper for the last seven weeks. The South is not the Northeast or Northwest where recycling has become a way of life. The owner said it is a struggle to get people to use the bins here. I hope his efforts will make a difference.

After dinner, we are going to watch a documentary that was made of the Southern Tier trip three years ago. Michelle was a guide for half of that trip and we’ll be ready to hoot when we see her.
Before I close, I have to remember to tell you that Sue was the winner of our poker day yesterday. She’s a card shark from Vermont and her face lit us when she showed us her straight. Congratulations, Sue.