Juniper Springs

Juniper Springs was supposed to be the first springs we stopped at in Florida but we got rained out just before we got there. So a couple weeks later we took a weekend and drove a little over an hour to the springs. 

I liked Juniper better than Wekiva Springs. It cost a lot more to get in but it was far less crowded probably because it's so far away from the major cities. Allegedly there are 3 vents in this basin producing 8 million gallons of water a day. I found one of the vents by the platform at the end and was able to swim down close to rocks. There is an old mill there that runs off the water leaving the spring and in the river we found a couple bubbling spots where water was coming up. 

The mill was build in the 1930's to produce electricity for the campground.

The boardwalks were closed. I don't know why they haven't fixed them with what they charge to get in this park.

Under the platform at the end of the springs.

The bridge was closed too because it's eroding.

Bamboo forest by the picnic area.

Hey Zach, why do squirrels swim on their backs?

One of the spots where the water is bubbling up from the ground.

Dean was being a turd and threw a soda can by out of the mill house. Zachy snuck into the walkway that says employees only to retrieve the can and throw it away.

Adri snuck up on the platform to hose down Natalie relaxing on her raft.

Lake Louisa State Park

A couple days after Wekiwa Springs we decided to check out Lake Lousia State Park, just a couple miles south of us. I was loading up the bikes that morning and it was so hot and muggy. By the time we got to the park it was warm and we were sweaty but it wasn't too bad. 

We rode about 6-8 miles around the park that day. Allegedly there is something like 20 miles of roads and bike trails so we didn't even get close to seeing all of it. We mostly stuck around Dixie Lake and Bear Lake. We actually didn't even make it to Lake Louisa.

This park has cabins, camping, fishing, canoeing, etc. I'm looking forward to going back when it's not as hot.

We parked here at Dixie Lake.

One of the two tortoises I had to take off the road.

A small pond. I don't think this one even has a name.

Dixie Lake.

We had lunch under these oaks. We found some caterpillars on the table and Adri refused to sit at the table after that. I picked them up with a stick since I didn't know what they were. Good thing I did. These are the flannel moth caterpillar, the most venomous caterpillar in the US.

Bear Lake

After Bear Lake we hit the main road and the sky was telling it it was time to leave. We got our bikes in the truck right as the rain was starting.

 

Wekiwa Springs State Park

After moving into our house our first trip was supposed to be at Kelly Park to do the tube float. Well we got there too late and there were police blocking off the entrance with a sign saying it's closed. I decided to try our luck at Wekiwa Springs instead. We had been here once about 10 years ago when Adri was little. I had Natalie call ahead and they said they were crowded and would probably be full by noon. We made it with an hour to spare. 

Zach has been trying hard to hate Florida but every time we take a trip he loves it. He says he likes it 1% more. Every week we take a trip and lately he's been playing Starcraft 2 with me while we're home so I think he's pretty much over the move. I don't know where Adri is on this move yet but Dean is the one kid that it didn't even phase him at all. Dean loves going to the springs but until yesterday at King's Landing (another post coming soon) he hasn't been getting in the water. He loves the beach the most and says he never wants to leave.

Like most Florida springs the water here was 72 degrees. On a hot day the water feels better at the springs than at the beach.

This is the no swim zone where everyone goes canoeing. This is all part of the same system as King's Landing and Kelly Park.

Taking a hike after swimming.