Otter Springs

Thursday the forecast was for HOT...wow there is a surprise...Hot weather in FL in the summer...but even for us it was going to be H-O-T...The heat index was expected to reach 110 by midday...

So for this reason we packed up the car early and got to Otter Springs by 9.30am...

Be sure and click on images to enlarge

Otter Springs, is a second magnitude natural spring with an average temperature of 73 degrees...This is a photo of the "boil" (where the water comes out of the ground)

Another view of the boil...As you can see the with the lack of rain both here and GA the water table is really low...I think this is why the "boil" is not creating much movement at the water surface.

The low water table however did not slow lil Sara down...she was delighted to be at "the beach"..

Because we were so early we got to enjoy the springs to ourselves for the first hour or so...Later others began to arrive and Sara quickly made friends and borrowed a bucket and spade to make mud castles with. (Note to mummy - Pack bucket and spade next trip)

Sara and Daddy playing in the water...Daddy showed off skipping stones...A skill he kept hidden from me for over 11yrs...I was much impressed...

With Sara and Daddy occupied skipping stones, I decided to take my camera on a little nature walk...Can you see the crane? and there are turtles sunning themselves among the tree roots on the left below the 2 large trees...

Around the corner the stream from the boil leads into the branch that after about a mile joins the Suwannee River...The Rope indicates to boaters they are not allowed any closer to the Spring and swimming areas.

A large crane feather on the waters edge...

Tree roots sticking out of the water along the banks of the branch...

Tree and roots across the water from me...Now if I could just work out how to get a decent close up from here of the turtle sunning himself next to that ugly black log...

THAT AIN'T NO LOG!!!!

I was so busy looking at the turtle and trying to work out how to get a good zoom shot, I did not see the gator until it moved, at which point I freaked out and ran back to the springs to tell David....This is the best and ONLY photo I got because it is actually edited out of the previous photo and was taken BEFORE I realized the 2.5ft Gator was there...

SO my advice when swimming at any of our local Springs is...Stay in the "swimming areas"...Keep other ppl between your family and the darker river water...and keep your eyes open...

Other than my gator sighting, it was a fun family outing, we were home by lunch time for hotdogs before the heat was unbearable too.

I am looking forward to returning to Otter Springs on Tuesday with some friends for a Play-date...

Blessings Kelsie

PS: Don't forget to check-out and enter my Give-away...

Yall give me so much, I wanted to return the love.