Field Trip to Blue Spring State Park!

We had a wonderful day at the park visiting the manatees. The temp was in the low to mid 60's with pure sunshine and beauty everywhere we looked!

They have a free film they show there that we all learned a lot from...the manatees are so precious! The gas prices have served a good purpose for them...less boat traffic equals less injury and death to them!! They did say they identify them by their markings (from injuries) so now they are having a hard time naming them and getting a count each day of how many come into the spring...no way to identify them...I think that is a great problem to have, no complaing there!! :)

This is in the spring

Still on the grounds of the park

This is out front on the porch of the Thursby House. Louis Thursby arrived in 1856 and this house was built in 1872. The third story and metal roof was added by his son, John around 1900. The first floor was opened up for public tours in 1983 restored to the period of 1872-1887.

Our two little monkeys!!

This one was traveling pretty fast back to the St. John's River!

There was supposed to be several families from our private school covering going...only two of us showed up! David and the girls still had fun:)

Waiting for the film to begin!

There are so many trees on the boardwalk near the water. It is interesting just to look up and see so many unusual things. This oak tree was growing onto & around the palm tree!

This is the source of the spring...I forget how many feet the depth was. They do allow professional divers down in the caves.

We could not have gone into the woods without getting a picture of a squirrel!!!

This is one of my favorite pictures :)

This is how a lot of the people prefer to see the manatees up close in the river!

This is the entrance for them into the spring.

Beauty in the wake of disaster!!

The girls were really eyeing these canoes!!! :)

Madeline took this shot :)

You can still see them very well...even though they are out of the pretty green spring water!

Another view of the Thursby House... it is so beautiful in person!

This was a treat on our way out...this little guy was right next to the platform...we really enjoyed watching him up close :)

Daddy and his girls!!!

We had a very relaxing day...it was so good to be outdoors!!!