It is lunch time.  Since we are still in Palatka, we check out some famous local eats at Angels Dining Car.  It is billed as the oldest diner in Florida.  I think I can believe that.  It is a long narrow space with counter stools down the center and booths for maybe a dozen along the outside wall.  Everything has multiple coats of paint.  There are old juke box speakers and vintage 45s hanging on the wall.  The food?  Not bad.  I try a diner original, a black bottom sandwich (bacon and ground beef stirred into eggs and fried into a bun sized disc).  Add some cheese, tomato and lettuce and schmear of mayo.  I am not sure how it got its name, it is not black bottomed, but it is tasty.  Carol’s onion rings are yummy as is the lobster bisque.  Kent stayed a bit more main stream with a club and fries, also not bad. I top it off with their dessert of the day, peach cream pie. I expected a cream pie with peach chunks in the filling but nope, it is a standard peach pie with whipped cream on the top.  Still, so good.

We are off to Ravine State Park in Palatka.  A CCC work crew created formal garden areas and terraces and developed the spring areas that feed into a deep, steep sided, naturally occurring ravine.  The ravine is itself a rarity in Florida but the park’s primary claim to fame is a brilliant rolling azalea bloom along the top ridge of this ravine.  This winter cold weather has hampered all manner of early spring blooming but I need to see how the azalea have fared.  Fuchsia, salmon pink and reds are beautiful.  Some varieties sport huge blossoms and others the more familiar smaller flower.   But sadly, we find that this is not the year for azalea in this part of Florida.  We find only scattered patches in bloom.  Many CCC “improvements” are being allowed to revert to natural state while suspension bridges and pavilions still provide lovely outdoor spaces for locals.  The park is oversold on their webpage but it was still worth a visit.

Carol is with us today as we head out to Salt Springs again to check for Manatees.  The cold weather has dropped the lake water temperature to 57 degrees encouraging the manatees to seek warmer water.  It is a constant 74 degrees at the spring.  We take a leisurely ride up salt run sharing the ride with eagles, great blue heron, egrets, anhinga, kingfisher, and hawks.  Along the way the water temperature is rising as anticipated.  We have a fleeting sighting of the 1^st manatee before we even arrive at the spring.  We anchor at the spring pool and sit quietly.  The gentle giants swim around and under the boat.  One is tugging at the floats attached to crab traps in the area; a bit like enrichment toys for animals in the zoo.  Big whiskered noses break the surface for a quiet breath.  All together we probably see 6 manatees.  It is a nice outing.

The wind has built up while we are out. Kent sneaks around the downwind side of the island for a bit smoother ride but we get a pretty bumpy ride home.

We are in our self-imposed 5 day Covid quarantine and napping a bit to rest up from our vacation so weather isn’t a big deal; but, it is gloomy and cool all week.  We squeeze in one short hike then batten down the hatches for a hard freeze, a real rarity here in central Florida.  The coldest morning, 24F.  Brrrrr.  It is not going to last through.  Florida feel returns later this week, when it will be back up to 80 and sunny.  Time to get back to fishing and manatee watching!

We divide the drive into two more manageable days and just miss winter storms as we head back to Florida.  We find all as we left it.  Kent is doing some boat maintenance and we making final preparations for our trip to Yellowstone in two weeks.

The winds are calm and the lake glass-smooth, a great day to head to the far bank and up Salt Spring Run in search of manatees.  Spring water is 74F year-round making it a favorite spot for manatees when Lake George waters cool in the winter.  We have seen them in large numbers on previous visits but an unusually warm December might be delaying their movement to the spring.  We shall see.

After a smooth sprint across the lake, we make the 4.5 mile trip up the spring at an idle with lots of time for wildlife watching.  At the spring basin we float in silence peering into the crystal-clear water and listening for the sneeze-like outburst of a manatee surfacing to breathe. Nothing.  It is a bit disappointing but just means we will have to come this way again after winter actually arrives in Florida.

We turn to leave but are brought to a stop by a wild flurry of beeps from the fish finder.  We drop a line at the edge of the basin and before long are pulling out long, slender silver and black fish.  Turns out we found a school of the same fish we have been watching since we first got out on the lake as they swirl at the surface and often leap clear out of the water.  (Google says they are mullet.)  We catch and release for a bit then head home.  The sky is darkening and there is rain in the forecast.

Out in the boat is a spectacular way to bird watch.  Brown pelicans, egrets, and great herons make regular appearances at the dock and occasionally on the boats while in the slips.  Fortunately, all they have left behind in ours so far are sandy footprints.  Bald Eagles chip and hawks scream as they swoop and soar overhead vying with the vultures for the  best perches.  Pileated woodpeckers laugh and rat-tat in the towering pines.  Anhinga seem to congregate along the far shore and fill the air with their distinct growly squawk when disturbed.  Cormorants perch and terns chirp at one another as they swoop and splash plucking unsuspecting fishies from the surface hardly slowing down in the process.

Fishing is a little slow.  We are out today for the second time.  Artificial bait was a complete washout our last outing so we brought live worms this time.  It is in the 70s with overcast skies breaking to bright sun by mid-day; about perfect to be out.  We catch and release a handful of pan fish.  Nothing to brag about but combined with the great weather and fun birding we declare it a good day out on the water.

Small town Christmas celebrations are a blast.   We decide to take in the Welaka Holiday Parade to get into the spirit of things.  It is a pretty cool start, a fly over by four single engine air craft in formation.  There are fire trucks, antique cars, local politicians, a high school band, horses, and A LOT of decorated golf carts.  Christmas with a decidedly beachy/tropical flare.  Santa makes the requisite appearance as does Smokey the Bear on the forestry fire vehicle.  Great fun.

That is the last time had the boat in the water.  Today, it goes into Lake George.  Thankfully there are few spectators as we launch.  The ramp here in camp is pretty rough and we are a bit out of practice.  We nearly forget to release the bow straps then are baffled that the boat won’t float free even well down the ramp.  We did forget to release the stern tie downs!  The whole mess, boat, trailer and all are floating over the ramp.  Oops. We float it back center, pull it out and try again.  All is well.  Kent takes it for a spin to be sure all runs well then expertly maneuvers into our slip, just like riding a bike. I guess you never forget how.  We are safely settled in.