Yep, Just the three of us this time so Bud's trying out...
Looks like they get the seal of approval
View from our campsite
Bud scouting out the surroundings
Bud already settled in enjoying the outdoors
Hey check that out! A pickup camper made into a travel trailer
This was our view from our camp site looking north
Another look again, this time just a bit to the east
Dorothy & Bud really enjoying the outdoors
Bud... Keep the lovins coming I can enjoy this for eternity
Dorothy & Bud really getting into the groove "The Great Outdoors"
Dan getting ready for the next best part of camping
What a life
Bud getting ready for his snooze
Dan getting ready for the night's campfire
Look I found me a poker stick for tonight's campfire
Look at the mushrooms
All settled in for the night
Bud exploring around the outter surroundings
The beginnings of some trees
A view from our campground to the south
Look what Bud found - Gopher turtle
He then led us to his home
Momument at the trail
Close up so you can read
On their way down the trail
Off to a good start
Take the lead Bud
Bear proof trash cans
On the look out for Dan & Bud
Finally found them - they were gone for a couple of hours
Bud was totally exhausted - he wouldn't even drink his water
It took Bud an hour to cool off - we were really...
There are bears in the park - we didn't see any
More bear proof trash containers
Check out the little lizard down by the springs
On their way to the springs
A long walk to the springs
A view of the springs - No dogs allowed down here
A beautiful view of the swimming area
It is hard to see here but the spring is coming from...
A look at the surroundings of the springs
This is the canoe area
Back at camp
Route to our campground
What are you smeeling for Bud?
Oh it's only ants!
I think this is what I was smelling - Deer!
Uh oh, I think the are smelling me now!
Now we're getting the stare down
They're high talling it out of here now - they smell humans...
Wait this one's didn't realize what was going on, he's still grazing
Now they're out of here
Back to camp after a great wildlife adventure
How tranquil of a setting is this
And just in time for a beautiful sunset through the trees
Time to get the campfire going
Our final night at Wekiwa Springs State Park with a great fire
Check out this RV on steroids
See what I mean, it can go anywhere - the owners were...
I'm not ready to get up yet
On our final walk - we find mother nature doing what she...
Then when we thought we had seen it all a bunch of...
And take a look at these strange looking mushrooms
Wekiwa Springs
Wildlife Encounters
Visit Wekiwa Springs State Park Web Site
Wekiwa Springs State Park
Winter Vacation 2007..... Part 1
This was our first stop of a very enjoyable week of relaxing, just the 3 of us. The weather was perfect all week long, we only ran the heater once while we were here. When we arrived on Saturday the park was filled, most of that was the boyscouts. On Sunday afternoon the park turned into a ghost campground, with very few RVers left behind. All the sites appeared to have enough room for even the larger RV's. Another thing they had in common was a railing around the perimiter of your campsite.
The park had many hiking trails to explore, Dan learned the hard way to take the map & water with you. Many of these trails criss-crossed each other so it's very easy to think you're on 1 trail and end up on a totally different trail taking you someplace you weren't even expecting to go. Dan & Bud started on a trail to only be gone for about a half hour and ended up being gone for more than 2 hours. I was in a panic when I could not find them and a Ranger stopped me and told me that they were further down the road with 1 tired dog in tow. When I got to them Bud had finally decided that he was not going any further and was laying in the grass along the road.
We thought that Bud had his fill of taking hikes, however he was excited the next day when we took our next hike down to the springs. Dogs are not allowed down at the swimming area of the springs. They even had canoe rentals down there along with a little eatery and visitor center. On the other end of the park they had an equestrian area where there is 8 miles of riding trails.
The rest of our time was spent relaxing and small hikes looking for wildlife. The park is home of the Florida Black Bear (we did not get to see any of the bears), white tailed deer (photos), wild turkey (photos), gopher tortoises (photo) and Sherman's fox squirrels (saw one wasn't able to photograph) and of course many birds.