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{It was odd to pack for Florida and not include all of my Scuba kit, but this was such a big trip I gotta offer it
}
My daughter Chanda I started taking Birthday trips together in her younger years Gawd, maybe 15 or so years ago, and over the years not only have the trips added up, weve added a few birthdays to thusly honor. This year, I organized and lead the trip for her, her hubby John, the preteen grandson Trapper, the one year old granddaughter Rece, plus my sister Nancy flying in on another airline from another Texas city. Yeah, I knew better, but I love a challenge. And most West Texans will vacation in the New Mexico Mountains or drive to Six Flags near Dallas then Sea World near San Antonio, but were made of bigger stuff
Getting there
I started with my usual short nap and 2:30am Wednesday alarm clock, headed for Lubbock, but this time gathering up my daughters family in the wee hours before checking in for the 5:50am departure. She and I both have Elite status with Delta and made the free First Class upgrades, so I asked: Which two wants to ride up front today, and which two (takes a chance) on the return. Trapper and I were fine sleeping in coach. Anyway, I like to go early when I travel and do as much as my energy will support, and we were in Tampa before noon.
With help from Scuba Board friends, I had proposed plans and backup plans for meeting my sis at TPA international, and as soon as I turned my cell-phone on, there was her Voice Mail: Im here, waiting for my bags, just a few minutes before. John, go down that escalator, will ya, see if you can find Nancy and her bags, and meet us down this other one where well gather our bags. In no time we had all the people and a dozen or so bags with orange ribbons organized and headed for car rentals.
The gals stayed in the foyer with the kids and bags as John and I headed for the counters, and I handed him the reservation sheet with his name as I took mine to the other clerk. His sensed that hed never rented a car before and tried to stick him with insurance we didnt need, then tried to up his rate, but I watched as he learned OJT and interrupted only as needed to save him from her doubling his rental charges, and - we were on the road by noon. Wow, I love it when a plan works.
Were there !
We soon tired of the every three miles toll stations and headed coastward to explore, which probably cost us time, but we got to Homosassa soon enough for a late lunch at a cute local place, and in Crystal Rive in time to set up camp at the Best Western and take in the free Kings Bay cruise. Okay, they did the boat; as I had to have another nap before dinner at another local establishment. I do not like to eat at chains when I travel, and we made it until the last day
We headed back south Thursday morning to Weekee Wache Mermaid Park that made national news in recent years with the gals Save Our Tales campaign when the park almost failed
http://www.weekiwachee.com/
The big theme parks long ago closed Texas similar Aquareena Springs Park, and Florida certainly has plenty of the giants, but the locals had kept this one going, and I had to see this. We did the River Tour while waiting on the big show, then we all marveled at the pretty young ladies and one young fella with their presentation of The Little Mermaid, especially me. I cant swim that well with full gear, but they did it with fins covered in costume, or none taking a breath every now and then from hoses, all the time with pretty smiles and grace. We spent a couple more hours in the spring fed water park, then headed back north for Homosassas Wildlife Park, where we saw many of the local wildlife in an outdoor zoo, including the first glimpse of a Manatee for the rest feeding on lettuce on the other side of glass from their underwater observation room. Ive seen some Sea Cows, before, but Gawd these were big. Rece call them all Dog? but she was seeing sites few people in the world ever see, as we all were.
And then there was the Snorkel Lessons in the motel pool. I showed them how to gear up No, John, the snorkel goes on the left, in case you ever take up Scuba, and how to free dive from a paddle swim Like this, see easy. None of them thought it easy, but we had the basics before supper. This time I got to pick the local joint, and talk about great fish! The Gator tale was delicious, too.
Friday morning started very early getting everyone in the two cars and gone with all the equipments, and my weeks of planning and shopping started coming together, at least. We were at the Birds Underwater by 6:30, on the boat by 7am, and by 7:30 we had Animal Footprints, the wake Manatees leave when they submerge. I had been told by many that wed never find Manatees in the summer, and even SBs Walter told me I couldnt; Id never known him wrong before, but Birds does deliver. Most of the animals go out into the Gulf to graze in the summertime, but with Chinese Hydrilla invader of all southern freshwater taking over the spring fed bay, many of them stayed here year round, munching away.
Wed been well briefed about the dos & donts, and I had my family not only in neoprene suits but also all but John and me inflatable vests, the baby staying aboard in her vest (always double the safety factor), so soon I was encouraging everyone but Rece to climb quietly off and see if the Animals wanted to play. You want me to jump off of a perfectly good boat into deep water? No, climb off quietly. The first cow & calf were busy munching and suckling, so we just watched, then moved on to another location where two young bulls were competing for one young heifer. We again tried to watch at a distance, but these slow swimming cousins of the elephant can surprise you when running on hormones, and I got one good slap in the face by a caudal fin. All in all, it was mind boggling everyones eyes as big as silver dollars behind their masks.
After my familys coffee & hot cocoa (it takes me a while to board a boat), we took one more dip at the end of a narrow channel being fed by springs in a nearby pond, and I was amazed how easy it was to swim into the current without a BC and tank. I took a few pics of the crabs living on the springs, and yelled thru my snorkel at a Scuba student kicking up the bottom that they all looked, then asked John to stay with Trap so I could go back to hold Rece while the gals came up. Nancy got a little nosey on some perch guarding an egg next and got her nose nipped. Four hours on the bay, and I had confident Snorkelers. Except, I must give credit to the Skipper/DM who went in on every dive, helping newbies get started and all. Many of the other operators out that day didnt bother. If youre going to swim with Manatees, call Birds.
http://www.birdsunderwater.com/
(continued...)
My daughter Chanda I started taking Birthday trips together in her younger years Gawd, maybe 15 or so years ago, and over the years not only have the trips added up, weve added a few birthdays to thusly honor. This year, I organized and lead the trip for her, her hubby John, the preteen grandson Trapper, the one year old granddaughter Rece, plus my sister Nancy flying in on another airline from another Texas city. Yeah, I knew better, but I love a challenge. And most West Texans will vacation in the New Mexico Mountains or drive to Six Flags near Dallas then Sea World near San Antonio, but were made of bigger stuff
Getting there
I started with my usual short nap and 2:30am Wednesday alarm clock, headed for Lubbock, but this time gathering up my daughters family in the wee hours before checking in for the 5:50am departure. She and I both have Elite status with Delta and made the free First Class upgrades, so I asked: Which two wants to ride up front today, and which two (takes a chance) on the return. Trapper and I were fine sleeping in coach. Anyway, I like to go early when I travel and do as much as my energy will support, and we were in Tampa before noon.
With help from Scuba Board friends, I had proposed plans and backup plans for meeting my sis at TPA international, and as soon as I turned my cell-phone on, there was her Voice Mail: Im here, waiting for my bags, just a few minutes before. John, go down that escalator, will ya, see if you can find Nancy and her bags, and meet us down this other one where well gather our bags. In no time we had all the people and a dozen or so bags with orange ribbons organized and headed for car rentals.
The gals stayed in the foyer with the kids and bags as John and I headed for the counters, and I handed him the reservation sheet with his name as I took mine to the other clerk. His sensed that hed never rented a car before and tried to stick him with insurance we didnt need, then tried to up his rate, but I watched as he learned OJT and interrupted only as needed to save him from her doubling his rental charges, and - we were on the road by noon. Wow, I love it when a plan works.
Were there !
We soon tired of the every three miles toll stations and headed coastward to explore, which probably cost us time, but we got to Homosassa soon enough for a late lunch at a cute local place, and in Crystal Rive in time to set up camp at the Best Western and take in the free Kings Bay cruise. Okay, they did the boat; as I had to have another nap before dinner at another local establishment. I do not like to eat at chains when I travel, and we made it until the last day
We headed back south Thursday morning to Weekee Wache Mermaid Park that made national news in recent years with the gals Save Our Tales campaign when the park almost failed
http://www.weekiwachee.com/
The big theme parks long ago closed Texas similar Aquareena Springs Park, and Florida certainly has plenty of the giants, but the locals had kept this one going, and I had to see this. We did the River Tour while waiting on the big show, then we all marveled at the pretty young ladies and one young fella with their presentation of The Little Mermaid, especially me. I cant swim that well with full gear, but they did it with fins covered in costume, or none taking a breath every now and then from hoses, all the time with pretty smiles and grace. We spent a couple more hours in the spring fed water park, then headed back north for Homosassas Wildlife Park, where we saw many of the local wildlife in an outdoor zoo, including the first glimpse of a Manatee for the rest feeding on lettuce on the other side of glass from their underwater observation room. Ive seen some Sea Cows, before, but Gawd these were big. Rece call them all Dog? but she was seeing sites few people in the world ever see, as we all were.
And then there was the Snorkel Lessons in the motel pool. I showed them how to gear up No, John, the snorkel goes on the left, in case you ever take up Scuba, and how to free dive from a paddle swim Like this, see easy. None of them thought it easy, but we had the basics before supper. This time I got to pick the local joint, and talk about great fish! The Gator tale was delicious, too.
Friday morning started very early getting everyone in the two cars and gone with all the equipments, and my weeks of planning and shopping started coming together, at least. We were at the Birds Underwater by 6:30, on the boat by 7am, and by 7:30 we had Animal Footprints, the wake Manatees leave when they submerge. I had been told by many that wed never find Manatees in the summer, and even SBs Walter told me I couldnt; Id never known him wrong before, but Birds does deliver. Most of the animals go out into the Gulf to graze in the summertime, but with Chinese Hydrilla invader of all southern freshwater taking over the spring fed bay, many of them stayed here year round, munching away.
Wed been well briefed about the dos & donts, and I had my family not only in neoprene suits but also all but John and me inflatable vests, the baby staying aboard in her vest (always double the safety factor), so soon I was encouraging everyone but Rece to climb quietly off and see if the Animals wanted to play. You want me to jump off of a perfectly good boat into deep water? No, climb off quietly. The first cow & calf were busy munching and suckling, so we just watched, then moved on to another location where two young bulls were competing for one young heifer. We again tried to watch at a distance, but these slow swimming cousins of the elephant can surprise you when running on hormones, and I got one good slap in the face by a caudal fin. All in all, it was mind boggling everyones eyes as big as silver dollars behind their masks.
After my familys coffee & hot cocoa (it takes me a while to board a boat), we took one more dip at the end of a narrow channel being fed by springs in a nearby pond, and I was amazed how easy it was to swim into the current without a BC and tank. I took a few pics of the crabs living on the springs, and yelled thru my snorkel at a Scuba student kicking up the bottom that they all looked, then asked John to stay with Trap so I could go back to hold Rece while the gals came up. Nancy got a little nosey on some perch guarding an egg next and got her nose nipped. Four hours on the bay, and I had confident Snorkelers. Except, I must give credit to the Skipper/DM who went in on every dive, helping newbies get started and all. Many of the other operators out that day didnt bother. If youre going to swim with Manatees, call Birds.
http://www.birdsunderwater.com/
(continued...)
