Niki at Blue Springs State Park

BLUE SPRINGS STATE PARK

Ellen Peterson, Sandra Friend,

Brenda Anderson and Niki

Every year we try to find time to get together

and do a girls kayak trip somewhere in

Florida. Brenda is an experienced kayaker

and has chosen some wonderful locations.

Blue Springs State Park was another gem that

we all got to experience together.

The Park is located east of Orlando along the

St. John River. Amazing that it is so close to

such a congested area, and yet it feels like

you've been dropped into some exotic country.

Truly a beautiful place!

Blue Springs Run - with Manatees

The 'run' is the small, short river

between the water source of

Blue Springs and where it enters

the St. John River.

The water here is a magnificent

color...as are all of the springs in

Florida.

I was looking forward

to kayaking this section, but the

Park closes the 'run' from Nov.

through March to protect the

Manatees who come here when

a cold snap forces them into

warmer water...and into the

springs.

Ellen, Brenda, Sandra

along the board walk

Manatee

The day we arrived the park counted

95 manatees in the 'run'

Blue Springs Run

Along the boardwalk

The "boil"...the place where Blue Springs

boils up from some place deep in the earth

The weather was looking kind of

sketchy when we first arrived at

the launch, but it slowly cleared

and we felt confident to head out

into the St. John River

Sandra loaded up and ready to go

We started out with a beautiful, quiet

meditation before we took off

down the river

Me...

I had a great time kayaking!

I have always considered Brenda

courageous...or crazy...for going kayaking

with me. Brenda is THE KAYAKING GIRL!

She can go great distances without getting

exhausted...she does it all the time and loves

the adventure of it all. I have only been

kayaking with Brenda...and this makes the

third time. Brenda is very very patient with me...

However, this time...so as not to embarrass

myself any further...I took kayak lessons

before the trip. It really helped. I actually had fun

and wasn't trying to canoe in a kayak!

My strokes improved enough so that I was able

to go straight and not zig-zag all over...I AM proud

of myself! But, I still have a long way to go

before I can get along like Brenda!

Sandra

Brenda and Ellen making their way

along the St. John

Fall colors along the St. John River

Exploring Florida by water is the best

thing about Florida! Every time is

an adventure.

We decided to leave the St. John River

behind and take a cut-off down a

stream. It eventually got kind of

clogged...but we pushed through

and made it to clear water and continued

the adventure...

Continuing down the stream

Stopping for lunch

Niki, Sandra, Ellen

Heading down the stream to see what's

around the corner...

We came across a cluster of yellow

flowers...couldn't help but take a

color coordinated photo with my

feet and yellow kayak!

Heading toward the St John River

Brenda and Ellen along the St John River

Making our way along the St John River

After a wonderful day on the river

we head back to the cabin.

We surprised Ellen with a

little birthday party for her.

Make a wish...

CASSADAGA

Sandra, Ellen, Brenda

Florida has many unique places...both in the

environment and in the communities.

Cassadaga is a community I have always

wanted to visit and since it was right

around the corner, we decided to check it out.

This community was founded as a spiritual

retreat and a place for anyone to get a "reading".

At every turn there are mediums and fortune tellers.

A very unique place indeed!

I'm not fond of fortune telling, but

I do believe that there is more to life than

we can conceive or are aware of AND, I

am a very curious person, so it was fun to walk

around and check it all out. They do have a few

very good books stores filled with all kinds of

gifts and books.

Ellen and Sandra were looking for a reading, but we

got there too late and everyone was closing down...

maybe another time...

Quaint downtown Cassadaga

mediums & fortune tellers found everywhere...

...and more mediums...

...and more mediums...

Hotel

Hotel porch

Street sign

The words inscribed:

We Are One

There is one life. That life is my life now.

There is one mind that mind is my mind.

There is one spirit governing and directing all things.

There is one presence and

one power controlling everything.

I am one with god - the infinite.

I am one with God's peace, there is no confusion in me.

At the center of my being there is peace.

There is nothing to be afraid of.

At the center of my being the eternal peace

forever dwells in security. I have no fear.

A mighty God power goes before me

making easy, instant and perfect my way.

Rev Gladys Reid

We ended the evening listening to the

wonderful stories of Ellen's life. It was

great that Sandra had recording equipment

with her and was able to record those

great moments in her life.

LYONIA PRESERVE

The preserve is to save the habitat of the

scrub jay. It also preserves one of Florida's

most endanagered ecosystems...the scrub.

There are plants and animals found here that

are not found in any other ecosystem in the state.

We were lining up to take our

group photo and before I could

take it a scrub jay landed on

Sandra's head! They are attracted

to the buttons on top of ball caps

because they look like an acorn.

These are the acorns that are the

preferred food of the scrub jay. They

do look a lot like the button on the

top of ball caps...no wonder we

attracted so many birds!

Niki, Sandra, GK,

Brenda & Ellen

Brenda taking a photo of scrub jay.

Brenda and Niki heading down the trail

Molly Doctrow gave me the name of

this flower: Garberia. She says she

has some planted in her garden and they

are doing quite well.

Climbing to the "summit"... well,

there really is no such thing as a summit

in Florida, but it was a steep hill...

Ellen and me photographing each other...

...when out of nowhere, Ellen's hat was

attacked by a scrub jay!

The photo I took of everyone

taking a photo of me...

Walking down the trail

Beautiful fall colors

While Sandra was filming a scrub jay

one landed on her hat!

Suddenly, a scrub jay was pounding

away at the button on the top of my

ball cap! I just glad it wasn't a

woodpecker!

The photo of the scrub jay on my

hat that I managed to take without

seeing what I was doing

GK and Brenda taking pictures

of the little red carnivorous plant...

...and Niki photographing that

little carnivorous plant...

This is the carnivorous plant I

was photographing in the previous

photograph...can't remember

the name.

Don McCumbe gave me the name:

Sundew

I have no idea what this plant is,

but I love the the little 'swirlies'

It was a great couple of days

spent with wonderful friends.

We saw a lot of new glorious

scenery that I can share with

Clyde (can't wait for him to

photograph Blue Springs!).

Once again our girls kayak trip was

filled with pleasant adventures and

good companionship...the true

joys of life...

photos by:

Brenda Anderson

Niki Butcher

Sandra Friend