This past weekend was the finest Ponce de Leon weekend that I can remember. Friday night was my friends birthday. Erica at Vortex baked her cake shaped like a scuba tank. We wanted to do a Friday night dive to mark the birthday but after a meal at Sallys free dessert for the birthday girl - there was no room for a dive. Some fireworks, a bottle of champagne, and presents capped off the night as done.
Next day we awakened late and drove to Morrison for an adventure and believe me an adventure it was. The river is almost to the block wall and the water temperature on the surface is 61 degrees. We met some folks from South Carolina who wanted to make the dive but aborted. We chatted for a while and found that one of them worked for the national park service. They went their merry ways and we set out to find the cave.
The water consistency of chocolate milk didnt give out its secrets easily. A young man from Hurlburt Field finally found entrance to the cave and marked it. We followed his line and found clear, warm water at the entrance to the chimney.
We looked around and found lots of sea urchin detritus and found it truly exciting that we could shine the HID up through the chimney and find only darkness. Our ascent through the layers of black, orange, red and finally light was forevermore interesting.
Vortex proved to be cloudy too. The onslaught of students caused the spring to cloud up. Even in the entrance to the cave we found silt silt silt. We found some interesting turtle remnants in the cave and did two trips to the second restriction. It was really disorienting to find the entrance to the cavern silted after dark.
We ran into some folks from the Bammer City Fire Department and Police Department. What a fine bunch they turned out to be. None - however - claimed the Auburn cup that was left in my room. Man - I enjoyed their stories.
All-in- all it was an educational and entertaining experience. We might have gone to Cypress with Bugman but didnt get up early enough.
Next day we awakened late and drove to Morrison for an adventure and believe me an adventure it was. The river is almost to the block wall and the water temperature on the surface is 61 degrees. We met some folks from South Carolina who wanted to make the dive but aborted. We chatted for a while and found that one of them worked for the national park service. They went their merry ways and we set out to find the cave.
The water consistency of chocolate milk didnt give out its secrets easily. A young man from Hurlburt Field finally found entrance to the cave and marked it. We followed his line and found clear, warm water at the entrance to the chimney.
We looked around and found lots of sea urchin detritus and found it truly exciting that we could shine the HID up through the chimney and find only darkness. Our ascent through the layers of black, orange, red and finally light was forevermore interesting.
Vortex proved to be cloudy too. The onslaught of students caused the spring to cloud up. Even in the entrance to the cave we found silt silt silt. We found some interesting turtle remnants in the cave and did two trips to the second restriction. It was really disorienting to find the entrance to the cavern silted after dark.
We ran into some folks from the Bammer City Fire Department and Police Department. What a fine bunch they turned out to be. None - however - claimed the Auburn cup that was left in my room. Man - I enjoyed their stories.
All-in- all it was an educational and entertaining experience. We might have gone to Cypress with Bugman but didnt get up early enough.