Salt Springs St. Pk., FL - Again

Saturday, Jan. 9...We are here with our trailer/RV neighbors worried about our tent abode. "Are you OK? Are you warm? You can come warm in our trailer/RV."... were some of their comments. Last night temps dropped with the sky sprinkling snow and sleet by morning. Cold, cold, cold 20 degrees. Our 3-season tent is serving us well along with 2 electric heaters and a nice new electric blanket. Thanks Mom for the warm blanket. J told everyone that when their stoves quit working...come on over to our abode and fry their bacon and eggs on our elec. blanket on #2. LOL Sunday morning the water pipes froze so no water for coffee. I was treated to breakfast across the street at the little cafe where the atmosphere was country...service great...for hot eggs/sausage/homefries/toast and biscuit with lots of Joe. YUM! Then while it was cold... we hit the road for a loop drive catching some awesome sites. Palatka was an old town with lots of murals on sides of their buildings. Still had an operational RR station with folks standing outside waiting for the train. Military statues on both sides of the bridge over the river. Nice sailing marina.

The hunting preserve nearby had large pastures of Fallow deer. The bucks had velvet on their horns. Lots of fawns running to keep up with mama.

The Gopher Tortoise species has declined due to overharvest and habitat loss in the form of land development and fire suppression.. Habitats are found in longleaf pine sandhills, dry oak hammocks, scrub pine flatwoods, dry prairies, and coastal dunes. Burrows can be up to 40' long and 10' deep. They feed on grasses, gopher apple, pawpaw, blackberries, and legumes. Lifespan is 40-60 years. A permit is always required to possess, study, or relocate gopher tortoises. During the Depression, these so called "Hoover chickens" were a reliable source of food.

Is this bear real? You tell me! The hawk below and bass were at Salt Springs...springs. There were several large bass and brim along with turtles swimming in the run.