Trip #9: Blue Spring SP, FL

May 2 – 4, 2008

BLUE SPRING STATE PARK, Orange City, FL

Site #33. This trip we stayed close to camp after setting up, waiting hear if our prospect had been approved to buy the house. Finally got word by 6 pm that there would be a delay, so  that being settled, we could move on. Beautiful park, live oaks, gators, clear springs and manatees. Next day very hot so did a short 2-mile ride down rough road. Went to town for wifi; later Bill took a swim in the springs while I mosaic’d. Due to the heat, we waited until later in the day to take an 8-mile bike ride on a new trail across from the park. It was paved and wonderful, though not officially open for another month, but that didn’t stop us. Big white magnolia flowers were blooming. I’ve read “the paths are along the Volusia County Spring-to-Spring Trail. The trail will stretch 26 miles from Gemini Springs Park to DeLeon Springs State Park when complete.” The next day we went canoeing for about 2 hours, hot and sunny. Saw gators, manatee, turtles, birds. Toured the pioneer Thursby House on an Indian mound. Got back to 91 degrees – time for another car ride; to Deland this time. Later when cooler we took another bide ride and saw a wild hog, a deer and two turkeys. This is another one of these parks you have to ride through a sprawling residential area to get to. Kinda takes the fun out your anticipated wilderness experience, but thank God these areas are preserved from development. But I have to say, after all the nasty things I've said about Florida and wanting to leave so bad, it sure has some beautiful places if you take the time to look. This park had a lot of them.

Park Info: Blue Spring State Park covers more than 2,600 acres, including the largest spring on the St. Johns River. Blue Spring is a designated Manatee Refuge and the winter home to a growing population of West Indian Manatees. For centuries, the spring area was home to Native Americans. In 1766 it was visited by Colonial American botanist John Bartram, but it was not until 1856 that it was settled by Louis Thursby and his family. The Thursby house, built in 1872, remains standing.

The view makes the paddling worthwhile.

There's nothing better than a porch.

Thursby House, 1910. If photos could talk...

Thursby House, 2008. Built to last.

The inside, now a museum. Beautifully restored and maintained.

Undated photo from the museum, but dress style says turn of the century. Ladies, can you only imagine? Now I really wish photos could talk.

The fabulous new bike trail

Beautifully blooming magnolias along the bike trail. Gotta stop a lot for pics when I ride.

Almost rode over this guy on another park road. Gotta be quick on the draw to be a biking snake photographer!