For me, roughing it is staying at La Quinta and getting dinner at the Wendy’s drive through. Which we do because we travel with a 13 pound pouch who has complete control over our life.
But I think the idea of hiking is wonderful.
Until I start planning on getting some hiking boots, tucking my pants into those boots so I don’t get ticks, putting that wide brimmed hat on so nothing falls in my hair and then there’s all those creepy crawly and biting creatures that can’t be avoided.
But last week we headed to Shamrock Pub with some friends for some wonderfully “bad” food and on the way back our host decided to make a little detour to the Withlacoochee State Forest Mutual Mine Recreation Area. Since we were driving right by it anyhow.
And It was a gorgeous sunny day in the high 60s which was perfect for a little stroll.
And it was quite beautiful so I should probably actually do some hiking. Someday. When I get hiking boots.
And since I just happened to have a camera with me, here’s some photos…
It’s been a strange week for us. Started out with Terry and I studying the plans for the future Old Homosassa sidewalks and discovering that we would lose seven large oak trees that help create our canopy. I updated my post from Sunday about the sidewalk plans with the email I sent and the responses. I was feeling hopeful.
Then on Wednesday I was “cc:d” along with Commissioner Ron Kitchen on the following email from Randy Oliver, County Administrator, to Jeff Rodgers, the Director of Public Works.
Jeff:
Would you ask someone to follow up with Mrs. Green and copy Commissioner Kitchens and myself on the response.
Thanks,
Randy
Haven’t heard anything. Now I’m perplexed. Will follow up with Mr. Oliver next week.
Meanwhile, I’ve been busy busy busy letting all of the “locals” know about the tree issue.
The Old Homosassa Heritage Council had a town meeting at the Civic Club on Tuesday. We are moving forward with fund raising to purchase and refurbish the water tower. Very Exciting!
I couldn’t find a lot going on in the county that I wanted to attend this weekend–probably because we already have plans. But if we get a chance, we’ll be stopping by the Visitor Center on US 19 at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park on Saturday for the arts and crafts show by local artists.
There is a lot coming up!
February 21st is the next open house at Three Sisters Springs. This is a GREAT event. Sponsored by the Friends of Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, you can catch a bus at Kings Bay Plaza. With the weather being a bit chilly, you are ensured of seeing manatees. Possibly hundreds of them. And you don’t even have to get in the water, you can view them from the boardwalk. Plus–it’s free!
Right here in Old Homosassa, on March 6th and 7th from 5 – 9 we will be having the Luminary Art Nights. We have some great art spots here. I’m planning on helping out Watsons Art Gallery & Studio. If you haven’t stopped there already, you must. Check out the art and then have dinner at one of our several fun restaurants on either side of the river.
On March 14th it’s the Shrimpapalooza! Sponsored by the Homosassa Springs Rotary Club, this is nothing but fun. A parade. Beads. A festival. Beads. Bands. Beads. Food. Beads. Have I convinced you yet? We like to take at least one grandkid….
On our continuing quest to understand how we are affecting our springs and aquifer, Terry and I headed up to Yankeetown Saturday morning to hear a presentation by Dr. Bob Knight, founder of the Florida Springs Institute, at the Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve, Ellie Schiller Education Center.
I posted a few weeks ago about a Friends of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Complex meeting where the featured speaker was Chris Anastasiou, Ph.D., a chief scientist and the leader of the Springs Team of the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFMD). His presentation was entirely scientific and based on data that SWFMD has collected over a number of years. What struck me was a slide that showed that nitrates are highest at the spring vent. As the water flows out to the Gulf of Mexico, the nitrates are diluted. Nitrates grow plants and cause greening which accounts for the prevalence of lyngbya and other invasive plant species in Kings Bay.
Up until this point, I had believed our springs were being polluted mainly by the coastal areas so Dr. Anastasiou’s slide made me realize that responsibility lies beyond our region.
Dr. Knight’s presentation added some clarity to the issue. I’m oversimplifying this, but the aquifer is one big water-filled cave under the entire state. While we all effect the aquifer since we all use water, the main consumption is from agriculture and mining. Polk County actually pumps the most. In turn, fertilizer, which is mainly nitrogen, drains into the aquifer. So what happens in a distant county ends up in our springs and our kitchen faucet.
Dr. Bob Knight, founder of the Florida Springs Institute
According to Dr. Knight, the only way to fix this issue is to charge for water and also raise prices for fertilizer. While residents usually pay for water at the levels they use, agriculture does not. They also dump more fertilizer than necessary on their crops because it’s inexpensive then it ends up in the aquifer. Simple economics will fix the problem but that’s not going to happen without new legislation.
On our own part to help the springs, Dr. Knight suggests we use fertilizer sparingly and only use slow-release products, clean up spills, don’t fertilize before rain is predicted, conserve water, and contact our legislators to pass laws to protect our springs.
There were many more points that Dr. Knight covered which I do not have space to go into. If you ever get a chance to hear Dr. Knight speak, please go. He’s a very interesting and enlightening speaker.
I’m not a camper. 
