There are many springs in the area created because of the limestone rock that under pins most of SE USA. This area was once all under water and in the limestone formed at that time are many crevices and holes that hold the bountiful groundwater produced over the summer months. In some areas this water bubbles up producing huge clear springs that are some of the biggest in the world. Where an underground cavern collapses you get a sink hole. We visited Juniper Springs.
And wandered along the lovely board walks that the state park provided and after the walk Wendy had a refreshing swim in the spring font itself.
It was very tropical and almost no one there.
Later in the week we visited the biggest spring in the are called Silver Springs, that besides showing off the spring also has a theme park featuring native animals. We got a two for one pass otherwise we would not have bothered. We went in a couple of glass bottom boat trips, and watched four wildlife shows.
The Springs are the source of the Silver River and wild alligators are everywhere. They aren't interested in humans unlike Saltwater Crocs. We also saw lots of turtles sunning themselves on the floating logs.
There were very few people there, a hundred if they were lucky. But in the quiet crowd free natural beauty it was a lovely day out.
This is the actual Silver Springs source with a glass bottomed boat above.
This afternoon we visited the Tiffany museum in nearby Winter Park that holds the biggest collection of Tiffany glass in the world. We also visited one of the famous Outlet Malls on International Drive.
We have a lovely campground in Orlando courtesy of the city council. Right on a lovely lake in an oasis of calm and beauty in the centre of Orlando with alligators just 100 yards away in the big lake. And all at a remarkably cheap price.
This week is our last on the RV, so we have some cleaning and packing to do accompanied by a trip to Universal Islands of Adventure Theme Park and to the Kennedy Space Centre on the coast. Then we leave the RV n storage to fly to San Francisco for a few days before flying home to NZ in time for the Semi finals of the Rugby World Cup. This is also our last blog musing for this year. Next year we will be back when we set forth from Florida to the bayous and head north through the mid west and up the Mississippi River. This year has been all about the first settlers of the country, and the Revolutionary war and the Civil War. Next year we follow the trails of the settlers in the great western migration that followed the civil war.
Join us again next year. Y'all have a great day now!
